Five BNP activists injured in attack outside party office

Five BNP activists were injured in an attack allegedly carried out by Awami League leaders and activists outside a BNP party office in Manikchhari upazila of Khagrachhari.

Three of the injured were in critical condition and were sent to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for advanced treatment.

The incident sparked tension in the area. BNP leaders and activists later staged a protest procession. Reports of vandalism at houses also emerged.

The attack took place in front of the BNP office in the Sapmara area of the upazila at around 7:30 PM on Friday (November 6).

The injured were identified as BNP activists Md Shahadat Hossain, 20, Md Saddam Hossain, 28, and Md Faruk Hossain, 30. Shafiqul Islam Sujon, 30, a leader of the Jubo Dal's associate organisation, the Swechchhasebak Dal, was also seriously injured, according to the upazila BNP president.

According to local sources, a preparatory meeting was under way at the BNP office in Sapmara on Friday evening to observe November 7. During the meeting, party activists spotted Md Amir Hossain, 40, the younger brother of Manikchhari upazila Awami League president and former chairman Md Zainal Abedin, at a shop beside the office.

Several BNP activists later detained him and took him to the party office.

Following the spread of the news, members of the rival Awami League group and their relatives allegedly gathered and launched a sudden attack on the BNP office. The attackers reportedly used locally made weapons, machetes and sticks to assault BNP activists before taking Amir Hossain away.

Five BNP activists were injured in the attack.

Local residents and party activists later rescued the injured and took them to Manikchhari Upazila Health Complex. On-duty doctors provided them with primary treatment. Three of the injured were later referred to Chattogram Medical College Hospital as their condition was critical.

Manikchhari upazila BNP President Md Habibur Rahman said a preparatory meeting was being held at the party office in Sapmara to observe November 7 when several activists detained the brother of the upazila president of the banned Awami League and took him to the office.

He alleged that Awami League activists and their relatives later attacked the BNP office with locally made weapons and rescued Amir Hossain.

He said five BNP activists were injured, three of whom were receiving treatment in Chattogram. He added that Swechchhasebak Dal leader Shafiqul Islam Sujon had sustained serious injuries.

Habibur Rahman further said police searched the area after the incident but could not arrest anyone. A case would be filed with Manikchhari Police Station over the incident, he added.

Confirming the incident, Manikchhari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Rashed Chowdhury said no complaint had been received at the police station so far. However, police were working to maintain normalcy in the area.

After news of the attack spread, agitated BNP activists staged a protest procession in the area at night. Reports of vandalism at houses also emerged, although those responsible for the damage could not immediately be identified.

Tension remained in the area following the incident, while law enforcement agencies were active to maintain order.

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